Switch-operating mechanism.



PATENTED SEPT- 18. 1906.

B. c. MURPHY. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 1906.

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THE NBRRIS PETERF cm, wasamcron, a. c.

No. 831,457. PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

E. G. MURPHY;

' SWITCH OPERATING MEGH'ANISM.

A PPLIOATION rmm mum, 1906.

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THE NoRrus PETERS 50., WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD C. MURPHY, OF ROYSE, TEXAS.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD O. MURPHY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Royse, in the county of Rockwall and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Mechanism; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in switch-operating mechanisms for street-railways.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby a switch may be thrown in either direction without stopping the car.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be simple, strong, and durable in construction, eflicient and reliable in'operation, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novelfeatures of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of railway-tracks and a switch, showing the arrangement of the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the operating mechanism with the cover of the casing or box removed. Fig. 4 is a cen tral vertical cross-sectional view of the same. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the pressure-levers. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a portion of a car-platform, showing the construction and arrangement of the operatin devices carried thereby; and Fig. 8 is a simi ar view taken at right angles to Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes a box or casin which is adapted to be set into the ground preferably midway between the track-rails, said box or casing being set into the ground at such a distance that the top of the same will be on a level with the car-tracks and preferably flush with the surface of the ground. Journaled in the sides of the box is a rock-shaft 2, to the center of which is rigidly connected a downwardly-projecting crankarm 3. To the lower end of the arm 3 is adjustably and pivotally connected an operating rod or bar 4, said bar being provided at its pivoted end Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

with a series of bolt-holes 5, by means of which the same is adjustably connected to the lower end of the arm 3 by bolts 6 or other suitable fastening devices. The rod or bar 4 is adapted to work through a pipe or hollow casing 7 and is connected at its outer end to the switch-point 8, as shown.

Rigidly connected to the rock-shaft 2 is a trip-bar 9, the ends of which project laterally on each side of the shaft 2, as shown. Pivotally connected to one side of the box or casing 1, on each side of the rock-shaft 2, is a pressure-lever 10, said levers being preferably triangular in form or provided with an inclined upper edge, as shown. The levers 10 may be of any suitable width and thickness and are pivotally connected at their smaller ends or points to the side of the casing, while the opposite or free ends of the same rest the opposite ends of the same. The box or casing 1 is provided with a suitable cover longitudinally-disposed slots 13, through which the levers 10 project when in inoperative positions. I

Carried by the car, and preferably secured 'to the under side of the car-platforms, are trip-rollers 14, said rollers being journaled in the lower end of plunger-rods 15, which are mounted in suitable bearing-brackets 16, secured to the under side of the car-platform and which project upwardly and are provided on their upper ends with a head 17, adapted to be engaged by the foot of the motorman. The plunger-rods have secured thereto stopcollars 18, between which and the lower end of the bracket 16 is arranged a coil-spring 19, by means of which the rollers will be retracted to an inoperative position after being released by the motorman. The rollers 14 are preferably arranged in pairs and in position to engage the pressure-levers 10 in the casing 1 when forced downwardly by the motorman.

When it is desired to throw the switch to permit the passage of an approaching car, one or the other of the plungers 15 are pressed downwardly, which will cause the roller on the lower end thereof to engage the pressurelever lying in its path and to force the same downwardly into the box or casing 1, thereby bearing upon one end of the trip-bar 9, Which will cause said bar to rock the rock-shaft 2 and through the arm 3 to shift the bar 4 and the switch-point in one direction. The parts are shifted in the opposite direction by forcupon and engage the trip-bar9 adjacent to or top 12, in which are arranged parallel.

IIO

ing down the other plunger-rod to bring the roller thereon in position to engage the opposite pressure-lever, which will cause the rockshaft 2 to turn in the opposite direction, as will be understood. The downward movement of the pressure-bar and the adjacent end of the trip-bar 9 Will raise the opposite ends of said bar and the opposite pressurelever to their normal positions.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle .or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

levers, substantially as described.

2. In a switch-operating mechanism, the combination with a box or casing having a slotted top, of a rock-shaft journaled in said casing, a crank-arm fixedly mounted on said rock-shaft, an operating-bar to connect said crank-arm with the switch-point of the railway-tracks, a trip-bar rigidly mounted on said rock shaft, pressure-levers pivotally mounted in said box or casing to normally project upwardly through the slotted cover thereof, trip-rollers carried by the car to engage said pressure-levers, and means whereby said rollers are brought into position to engage said pressure-levers, substantially as described.

3. In a switch-operating mechanism, the combination with a box or casing having a slotted top, of a rock-shaft j ournaled in said casing, a crank-arm fixedly mounted on said rockshaft, an operating-bar to connect said crank-arm with the switch-point of the railway-tracks, a trip-bar rigidly mounted on said rock-shaft, triangularly-shaped pressurelevers pivotally mounted in said box and adapted to engage the opposite ends of said trip bar, said levers normally projecting through the slots in the cover of said box or casing and spring-retracted trip-levers arranged on the cars and adapted to be projected downinto position to engage said triplevers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit- EDWARD C. MURPHY. Witnesses J. N. MILLER, M. M. MOKEE.

} nesses. carried by the cars to actuate said pressure- 

